Buggy-top support.



E. MGUQY.

BUGGY TOP SUPPORT.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. s, 1903.

BUGGY-TOP SUPPORT.

Specification of 'Letters Patenti Application led August 6,1,lj`1908. Serial N o. 447,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ELIJAH McCoy, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Carthage, in the county of Jasper and State .buggy top support and protector.

lhe object of the present invention is to improve the construction of buggy top supports and protectors, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient device adapted to be readily applied to a buggy or similar vehicle, and capable of reinforcing and protecting the rear bow and of cushioning and preventing the top from jolting up and down and breaking or bending the bows while the vehicle is being driven over a rough road.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushioning support and protector of this character having means for automatically gripping and holding the carriage top when the same is lowered.

lVith these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction andnovel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the Jform, proportion, size and minor details of construct-ion, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departin from the spirit or sacrificing any of the a vantages of the invention.

In the drawing z--Figure l is a side elevation oit' a portion of a buggy provided with a buggy bow and buggy top support and protector, constructed in accordance with this invention. -Fig 2 is a vertical longi tudinal sectional view of the buggy bow and buggy top support and protector, illustrating the manner of engaging the rear bow. Fig. 3 isA a perspective view of the buggy bow and buggy top support and protector. Fig. l is a detail sectional view of the rear bow, illustrating the arrangement of the resilient sleeve.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The buggy bow and buggy top support and protector is constructed of a single strip of spring metal, which is bent at the center to form a substantially Ushaped resilient seat l, adapted to receive, support and clamp the rear bow 2 of a buggy top 3, when the latter is lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The U-shaped seator clamp has a substantially oval-shaped bottom portion to conform to' the configuration of the rear bow 2, and it is expanded by the latter, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The space between the upper portions of the sides of the U-shaped seat or clamp is of a width less than the diameter of the rear bow, and in order to avoid scratching or otherwise marring the latter, the rear bow is equipped with a protecting and strengthening sleeve t, constructed oi:l resilient sheet metal, or other suitable material and split longitudinally at the bottom to enable it to be readily applied to the rear bow. The sleeve, which extends in advance and in rear of the seat when the buggy top is lowered, prevents the leather covering 5 of the rear bow from being scarred orv otherwise marred by the use of the buggy bow and buggy top support and protector.

The metal of which the device is constructed is doubled at each side of the combinedseat and clamp to forni two leaves or thicknesses, and the doubled portions are partially coiled or bent exteriorly at the upper end of the sides to form spaced top rolls A(5, which are located at the top or entrance oit' the seat l. The rolls 6 stiften and reinforce the device and at the same time provide a Haring mouth or entrance having smooth side faces and adapted to enable the rear bow to automatically engage the device when the buggy top is lowered. When the buggy top is raised, the rear bow is automatically carried out of the seat 1.

The device is provided at the inner and outer sides of the combined seat and clamp with approximately L- shaped le s 7 formed by bending the metal outwar horizontally at each side of the seat and then downward in a vertical direction. The horizontal portions of the legs of the device are resilient and adapted to spring upward and downward to yieldably support the seat and cushion the buggy top.` The horizontal portions of the legs may be varied in length to increase and diminish the resiliency or cushioning action of the device, and they are secured to the arm 8 by means of horizontally alined sleeves 9, formed integral with the legs 7 and extending inwardly -from the lower ends oi the verllatented Jan. 25, 1910.

tical portions thereof. The arm 8, which projects horizontally from the seat rail .10, forms a pivot for the brace l1 and is square in cross section. The sleeves 9, which are rectangular to conform to the-configuration of the arms 8, hold the device in a perpendicular position, and prevent the same from tilting backwardly or sleeves are secured on the arms 8 by the means for securing the braces 11 to the outer ends ofthe said arms.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I 4claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A buggy top support consisting of a strip of flat metal doubledV at an intermediate point to form two bow clamping sides and va bottom lconnecting bow supporting portion, the bow being clamped upon the bottom by the said sides for holding a buggy top against upward movement, said metal being bent backward von itself at each Aside to form two contiguous leaves or thicknesses, the terminals of vthe metal being extended -outward from the sides to form resilient connecting portions and then downward to provide vsupporting legs.

12. A 'device of the class `described constructed of a single strip of spring metal `ben'tia't an .intermediate vpoint to form 'a substantially U-shaped scat arranged to receive and clamp a bow, the terminals of the strip forming approximately L-shaped legs composed of horizontal portions connected with Ithe sides of the seat and forming a cushion for the same, and vertical portions provided at their lower ends with inwardly extending sleeves arranged to fit on 'the `arm -of a vehicle.

forwardly. The

3. A buggy top support consisting of a single strip of .spring metal bent at an ntermediate point to form a seat, the terminals `of the strip being approximately L- shaped and composed of outwardly extending horizontal portions connected with the sides 0f the seat and forming a cushion for the same, and vertical portions provided at their lower ends with means for engaging the arm of a vehicle.

4;. A -device of the class described constructed of a single piece of spring metal and consisting of an approximately U- shaped seat supporting the carriage bow in its lower portion and `having the metal doubled at each side to form two contiguous leaves yor thicknesses, and the two leaves or thicknesses at each side being bent or partially coiled at their upper ends to form exterior rolls having two leaves or thicknesses, and legs supporting the seat.

5. A device of the class described constructed of a single piece of spring metal and. consisting of an approximately 'U- shaped seat having the metal doubled at each side to form two leaves or thicknesses, and .the sides being bent or partially lcoiled at their upper ends to form exterior rolls, and legs .supporting the .seat and having upper resilient cushioning Vportions and provided xat the bottom with sleeves to 'lit the .arm of a vehicle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto 4aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELIJAI-I MCCOY.

Witnesses:

.LEIGH I. DODWELL, W. E. DEEMER. 

